Photographic printing apparatus



W. F. DREHS PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1941 5Sheets-Shee l M E R F W 'May 9, 1944.

M y 9, 1944- w. F. DREHS 2,348,457

PHOTQGRAPHIG PRINTING APPARATUS Filed April 18. 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i1944. v w.- F. DREHS 2,348,457

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 vI] 1 vuQ/vvi'o n W. F. DR /4s Patented May 9, 1944 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTINGAPPARATUS William F. 1mm, Reading, Pa.

Application April 18, 1941, Serial No. 389,251

12 Claims.

This invention relates to photographic printing apparatus and isdirected to a device of this character for producing successively andrapidly a series of photographic prints from negatives by bringingsuccessive areas of light sensitive photographic sheet material or thelike and a light beam from a printing lamp into alignment.

According to the invention it is proposed to provide an apparatus inwhich a supply of printing paper may be installed initially, and whichpermits the successive printing of a large number of pictures withoutthe necessity of handling the printing material until the entire seriesof pictures has been printed.

A particular object of the invention is to provide apparatus forprinting pictures from a series of negatives arranged in a row on astrip of film such as commonly used in small, so-called candid, cameras.As many as thirty-six or more prints may be produced in rapid orderthrough the use of the apparatus. The number of prints produced will belimited merely by the size of the apparatus and the size of the printsdesired. It is contemplated using the printing apparatus in associationwith an enlarging printing lamp where the negatives are of small size.

It is another object of the invention to produce a multiplicity ofphotoprints in orderly, and pref erably spaced, arrangement. Ordinarily,an entire series of pictures will be printed on a single relativelylarge sheet of photographic printing material. Where the prints are ofrelatively small size it is convenient to preserve them on a singlesheet, but the location of the prints on the sheet produced through theoperation of the machine is such that where desired the sheet may be cutinto individual prints, or small groups of prints. While the series ofprints may be arranged in a single row corresponding to a strip ofnegatives, the apparatus will preferably be designed also to permit theseries of prints to be made in a plurality of rows in a continuousoperation.

A further object of the invention is to Provide a photographic printingapparatus for printing a series of pictures from photographic negatives,in which with equal facility each picture may be produced from adifferent negative or any number of duplicate pictures printed from asingle negative.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus forprinting a series of pictures one after another through movement of asheet of printing paper to bring successive limited areas thereof intoalignment with a photographic lamp wherein movement of the sheet iseffected in a step by step manner, and so arranged that the time ofmovement may be varied. Each print may thus be subjected to exposure forthe proper time according to the condition of the negative from which itis produced. Control means is provided which permits the different areasof the ment with the printing lamp for as short or as long a time asdesired.

A still further object of the invention is to pro vide a photographicprinting apparatus adapted to move a sheet of printing material relativeto a printing lamp for the production of prints successively fromnegatives wherein movement of the printing material may be effectedindependently of the lamp control and/or independently of movement ofdifierent negatives into alignment with the lamp.

In carrying out the above and other objects, the invention comprises aprinting frame adapted to support photosensitive sheet material forrelative movement with respect to a printing lamp, means for effectingmovement to bring different areas of the printing material intoalignment with the lamp, and control means for the actuating meanswhereby movement is effected in a step by step manner.

An apparatus according to the invention may be so designed as to be usedwith any conventional type of photographic printing lamp, and the samemay be made in an extremely simple form at relatively low manufacturingcost.

Among the principal novel features of the invention is the provision ofa printing frame adapted to support the light sensitive material withmounting means providing for movement of the frame member in a fixedpath or paths. Preferably the supporting structure is adapted to providemovement of the frame member in two directions so that the frame membermay be moved both longitudinally and transversely to bring differentlimited areas of the printing material into alignment with aphotographic lamp.

The actuating means also constitutes an important feature of theinvention, and the same is of a type which will provide for intermittentstep by step movement of the frame member.

; Electric motor means may be employed for actuation, in conjunctionwith the appropriate control mechanism. Weight mechanism or springmechanism is preferable for actuation purposes in that a single form ofcontrol mechanism may be used therewith and there is no need forcomplicated gearing and clutch mechanism.

A novel control mechanism is utilized which controls the step by stepmovement of the frame Preferably, the control mechanism will be operabledirectly by the operator, and for such purpose utilizes key mechanismwhich will effect movement of the frame member one step upon eachmanipulation thereof.

One preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. i is a perspective view of a photographic printing apparatusaccording to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan viewcorresponding to Fig. I;

Fig. 3 is a view of the base structure as shown in Fig. 2 with themovable carriage mechanism omitted;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line 44 of Fig. 2

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal elevation; and

Fig. 7 illustrates diagrammatically a series of prints produced by theapparatus illustrated.

The apparatus shown includes a printing frame F mounted on a carriage Lfor movement on a supporting frame or base B. Supporting carriage L is acarriage T, the end members i and II of which support a pair of guiderods 12 and II on which carriage L is movable in a path lengthwise ofbase B. Positioned above the apparatus is shown a printing lamp I ofconventional type. The lamp has means associated therewith as shown inFig. 6 for supporting a photographic negative film strip so thatsuccessive negatives on the strip may be brought in registry with thelamp for the projection of an image on successive limited areas of alight sensitive photographic material supported by the printing frame Fas the latter is moved on the base B relative to the lamp.

The printing frame F has mounted thereon a framing member in the form ofa grid G adapted to overlie the photographic material and provided witha row of windows WI, W2, W3,-

W4, W and W8, which are spaced from each other by portions of the gridand define the size of the picture prints exposed at different times tothe light beam of the lamp projected through the negative film strip.Where the negative film strip is of small size, such as used inminiature cameras, it is preferable although not necessary that the lampI and its lens equipment be of an enlarging type. The size of thewindows in the framing member G will be determined by the size printdesired and the type of lamp used. The length of the printing frame 1''will be determined by the number of prints it is desired to produce in arow. The printing material carried by the framing member and underlyingthe grid will preferably be in the form of a single sheet. In theembodiment illustrated six prints can be produced in a row correspondingto the six successive windows of the framing member G. By movingcarriage L along guide rods l2 and I! each of the windows WI to W may bebrought successively into alignment with the projected beam from lamp I.Control means is provided for stopping the carriage L with each of thesuccessive windows in registry with the focused beam from the lamp. Ofcourse, the lamp itself will be provided with an oil and on switch (notshown) so that the lamp may be turned ofi during movement of thecarriage and flashed on for an exposure period suitable for eachindividual negative of the film strip. The time of exposure forindividual prints may be varied in order to obtain best results, and thecontrol mechanism which determines the time of movement of the carriageII is designed to make this possible.

The control mechanism illustrated includes a series of stops on theunder carriage corresponding in number to the row of windows in framingmember. G, and means for releasing the upper carriage from its positionof rest at each stop so that the carriage. may be moved step by stepfrom one stop to the next. In order that the periods of rest of theprinting frame at the different printing stations may be varied in anyway desired, it is preferable that the com trol mechanism be of a typedirectly responsive to the operator of the machine. A key-controlarrangement is employed. Such mechanism includes a series of keys Kl,K2, K3, K4 and Kl which, as best shown in Fig. 5, are pivotally mountedin brackets supported by the bottom member ll of carriage T and projectthrough.

slots in the longitudinal carriage wall II. The respective keys carry aseries of stops SI, 82, 83, S4 and BI engageable with a stop mounted oncarriage L which carries the printing frame. By depressing the variouskeys the stops SI to S! are released from engagement with S0 and permitcarriage L to be moved until the next key-supported stop engages elementBl.

By reference to Fig. 1, it will be understood that movable stop Bl onkey Kl will support carriage L with window WI in registry with the lamp.Upon depressing such key, stop sl will release the carriage and permitthe same to move until element 80 contacts stop 82 carried by key KI. Bydepressing the keys successively the carriage can be advanced step bystep as before explained. When element 80 has reached stop 85 on thelast key K5, window WI will be in registry with the lamp. Upondepressing such key the carriage will be released to bring the lastwindow Wl beneath the lamp, and in such position it will engage afurther stationary stop 8| mounted on end member ll of carriage T.

The step by step movement of the printing frame with its supportingcarriage L under control of the key mechanism may be effected by hand,but preferably actuating mechanism is provided to accomplish movementand I here use a simple weight device comprising a weight LW attached toa cable I! passing over a pulley l8 mounted on the end member I l ofcarriage T and connecting with carriage L through an anchor member is asbest shown in Figures 2 and 4. To minimize shocking and jarring ofcarriage L as it is brought to each stop by the weight, it is preferableto provide a shock absorbing spring 20 between the cable and thecarriage L.

After the carriage L has reached the final stop S8 under actuation ofweight LW it may be reset to its initial position at the right end ofthe base member manually through a suitable handle H. During such returnmovement the carriage is preferably arranged so that it may be shiftedfrom the left to the right end of the base member without interference-by stops SIS5. For this purpose the upper ends 2| of the movable stopsare beveled, and counterweights 22 are provided on the inner ends of thekeys Kl-KI. With this arrangement as element $0 on carriage L reacheseach of the stops Sl-SS on its return movement, the keys will besuccessively depressed so that element so will ride over the top of thekey supported stops under the moving force applied to the carriage.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that whereas stops SI-SSare illustrated as the movable stops cooperating with a fixed stop Sllon carriage L, and are operated by a bank of keys Kl-KS corresponding tothe number of movable stops, a reverse arrangement can be used differentkeys determine movement of the printing frame from one station to thenext, ,in the reverse arrangement th step by step movement would becontrolled by successively depressing a single key.

In order that a relatively large number of prints can be made in acontinuous printing operation without making the machine of unduelength, it is desirable that the machine operate to produce a pluralityof parallel rows of prints instead of merely a single row. Accordingly,the printing frame member is arranged to be movable transversely as wellas lengthwise relative to base 13, and control and actuating mechanismis provided.for producing step by step movement transversely.

As before noted, carriage L is supported for lengthwise movement on alower carriage T. Carriage T extends substantially the entire length ofbase B but is narrower than the base and mounted for movementtransversely of the base as will be understood generally from Figs. 1and 2. Base B, as best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, is provided with tworails 22 and 23 upon hich ride wheels 24 and 250i carriage T. A furtherrail 26 is mounted on the base in a central position against theopposite sides of which ride guide rollers 21, mounted in pairs on thebottom l of carriage T, serving to maintain carriage T in properalignment with base B.

To control transverse movement of carriage T parallel rows of stopsTS|TS5 and TSP-.- TSS are mounted on .base member B. Pivot-al y mountedon the sid wall 28 of the lower car-' riage T are a pair of movablestops T80 and TSO' normally positioned in line with the respectiveseries of stops by a common actuating arm 29, as will be understood fromFigs. 2. 4 and 5. A spring 30, best shown in 4, yieldingly holds stopTSO against pin 3i, and such pin and spring through lever 29 alsofunction to position stop TSii'. By moving lever 29 to the right inFigs. 2 and 4 when stops T80 and TSO' are in engagement withcorresponding stops TS! and TS! on the base B, elements T80 and T80swing to the left out of engagement with such stops and allow the lowercarriage T to move transversely of the base B. When lever 29 isreleased. spring 30 shifts the stops back to vertical position forengagement with the second pair of stops TS! and T82.

Thus, through successive movements of actuating lever 29, the lowercarriage T. together with the upper carriage L and printin frame F, arepermitted to move step by step transversely of the base.

Transverse actuation of the carriages, as wel as longitudinal movementof carriage L. may be efiected through weight motor means, but since itis necessary that carriages T and L be capable of movement at difierenttimes a weight and cable arrangement is employed for transverse movementindependent of weight and cable LW and I]. A weight TW is employedanchored to a pair of cables 32 and 33 which pass around a pulley 34mounted on the end 35 of the base B and thence to a pulley 38. At thispoint the cables separate, cable 32 passing lengthwise of to connectwith the right hand end of carriage T, as shown in Fig. 2, through ashock absorbing spring 38, while cable 33 passes around pulley l6 andconnects with the left end of carriage T through spring 39 and'anchoringhook 40. Each time actuating lever 29 releases stops T80 and T80,carriage T is moved by weight TW transversely of the base one step.

The printing frame member. F is relatively broad and the grid (3 isprovided with multiple rows of windows including, in addition to rowWl-WO, rows WI-W|2, Wl3-Wi 8, WIS-W24, W25-Wlil, WIl-W38. The step bystep transverse movement of carriage T serves to bring one row afteranother of the windows into alignment with the light beam from the lamp1.

To simplify working of the machine by the operator, it is desirable thatthe step by step transversemovement control mechanism be made responsiveto longitudinal movement of the upper carriage L lengthwise of the lowercarriage T and base B. This is accomplished through providing an arm orflnger 4| on the right end of lever 29 so that as'the upper carriage Lis moved from its left end position back to its initial setting at theright end of carriage T, arm 4| will be engaged by carriage L, as willbe understood from Figs. 2 and 4, to release stops T80 and TS! so thatcarriage T will shift transversely to bring the second row of windowsinto alignment with the lamp. It will be observed that stop SI is sopositioned that when it engages stop S0 a space is provided between theright end of carriage L and the end ill of carriage T. When the operatorthrough handle, H returns the carriage to the right, carriage L willmove into engagement with a bumper 42 on member l0, and in so doingengage arm 4| and move lever 29 to the right to release the transversestop mechanism. As soon as the handle is released carriage L will bemoved back to the left into position where stop S0 engages stop SI, andin the course of such movement arm 4| i released .to allow actuatinglever 29 to move to the left the base and thence around a second pulley31 15 to bring stops TS!) and T into position for engagement with thenext pair of stops of the series TS i--TS5, TSI TS5'.

With the arrangement of the key-control mechanism controlling step bystep longitudinal movement of the printing Ira-me supporting uppercarriage L under actuation of weight mechanism LW, and the leveractuated control mechanism controlling step by step transverse movementof carriage T together with carriage L under actuation of weight TW inresponse to resetting movement of carriage L longitudinally, clearly inmind, the operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention forproducing a complete series .of picture prints can be brieflysummarized. It will be observed that the grid G is supported by hinges43 on the upper carriage L. The same is swung upwardly and a sheet ofphotographic printing paper such as M in Fig. 7 is placed on theprinting frame F. Such material is preferably of the same size as theframe F and is supported therein by a series of fingers 44 shown inFigs. 2 and 4. The grid G is then swung downwardly and held firmlyagainst the sheet M by a spring clip 45. It is assumed that thecarriages L and T are in the position v illustrated in all the viewssothat the portion of the printing material framed by window WI of thegrid is aligned with the lamp I. The film strip as shown in Fig. 6 isadjusted to bring a desired negative into registry with the lamp forproducing print Pl (Fig. 7). The lamp is then cut on for the properexposure period and then cut off. Key Kl is then depressed to releasestop Si and the carriage moves longitudinally to stop S2 so as to bringwindow W! of the first row of windows into alignment with the lamp.Usually the film strip N will be adjusted to bring another negative intoregistry with the lamp before production of print P2 through window W2,but of course if desired print P2 may be. made from the same negative asprint Pi where duplicate prints are desired. By successively de keys K2,K3, K4 and K5, the upper carriage is shifted step by step to bringwindows W3, W4, W5 and W6 of the first row into alignment with the lampfor the printing of pictures P8, P4, PI and P8. The upper carriage L isnow at the left end of carriage T and base 13. The operator thereuponreturns the carriage manually to its original setting, and in so doingactuates lever 29 as previously explained and brings the first window W!of the second row into alignment with the lamp for the production ofprint Pl. By intermittently operating the lamp at each station of thecarriage and alternately depressing the successive keys Kl-KI, with orwithout bringing a new negative into position, the entire second row ofprints P1--Pl2 is made. The carriage L is then returned a second time,again causing actuation of lever 29 and producing a shift of carriage Ttransversely of the base to bring the first window WII of the third rowinto alignment with the lamp. The third row of pictures Pl3-Pl8 aresuccessively made through windows Wl3Wll under step by step movement ofthe printing frame, and so on until the fourth row of pictures PIS-P24,the fifth row of prints P24-P3ll, and the sixth row of prints P3IP36have been made from the negatives of film strip N respectively throughthe rows of windows Wis-W24, WIL-Wll, and Wl|W36.

The grid G is then raised and the sheet of exposed prints removed. Thecompleted series of prints will be arranged as diagrammatically shown inFig. 7. and after processing the same may be retained in the form of asingle sheet as shown or may be cut apart along the division spacesbetween the prints.

The apparatus is easily reset after completion of one series of picturespreparatory to the beginning of a further printing operation. Thisentails transverse as well as longitudinal movement of the carriage L sothat the printing frame is shifted from a position with the last windowW38 of the last row in alignment with the lamp to the starting positionwith the first window WI of the first row at the lamp station. As beforepointed out the stop means controlling advance of the carriage L oncarriage T longitudinally of the base B is inoperative during return sothat carriage L can be reset lengthwise to initial position in anuninterrupted move ment. The stop means controlling step by step advancelaterally of carriage L with carriage T is also inoperative duringresetting so that return laterally can similarly be accomplished in anuninterrupted movement.

Important also, in the embodiment illustrated, resetting transverselyand longitudinally can be accomplished in a single rapid operation, andthrough operation of one resetting means. This is possible by reason ofthe fact that release lever 29 of the transverse stop control mechanismreleases the pivoted stops TSII and PST-as car- Tl pull of both weights.The

30 particularly since all 35 ment of the film strip,

riage L is reset longitudinally and masses arm ll on lever 2!. Byreference to Fig. 4, it will be understood that as long as carriage Lengages arm 2|, carriage T together with carriage L can be shiftedfreely transversely in either direction since at such time the series ofstops TSl-TBI and TSP-T85 are imperative. The conterweights LW and TWare made no heavier than to insure proper advance longitudinally andtransversely during the series of printing operations, and onlyrelatively little force is required to reset carriage L against theoperator manipulates thereeettingmechanism,inthiscasethehandle H, andthe single operation moves e L longitudinally from its left to its rightend position. As such carriage approaches its right end position, lever29 is actuated to release stops T8. and TBI', and the operator draws 2carriage L together with carriage T transversely.

When he releases the handle carriage L will shift slightly to the leftto engage the first longitudinal stop SI, lever 28 is released, andspring ll brings stops TS. and T into operative position to engage stopsTSI and TBI',

and the carriages L and T are then held with the printing frame in itsstarting position.

The complete operation of producing an entire set of prints may becarried out very rapidly. adjustment of the printing paper is effectedthrough movement of the uw per and lower carriages of the machine. Sincemovement of the machine is effected through its own control mechanismindependently of moveand preferably also indeon and cutting 01! of thelamp, the machine is extremely flexible in operation, permitting singleand double prints of successive negatives to be made at will, andpermitting the exposure printing time of the lamp to be varied accordingto the requirements of each individual negative.

Of course, it is to be understood that the printing apparatus may beemployed with other types of printing lamps than the one illustrated,and while being particularly suitable for negative film stripe may beemployed with negatives in other form. Also, where the prints are to beof the same size as the negatives, the negatives may be superposeddirectly on the printing paper M on the frame member F beneath grid Gand moved therewith into registry with a beam of light from a printinglamp.

The particular control mechanism for the carrlages and the weightactuating means are desirable because of their simplicity and economy ofmanufacture. It will be evident to those skilled in the art, however,that other forms of actuating and control mechanism may be employed toproduce at appropriate times the successive step by step movements ofthe printing frame F relative to a printing lamp. The invention istherefore not limited to the particular embodiment illustrated, and thescope thereof is to be determined according to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Photoprintlng apparatus for producing prints from photonegativessuccessively in row arrangement comprising a supporting frame member forphotoprinting sheet material movable in a path past a printing station,a cover member overlying and movable with the frame member having a rowof windows for exposing successive areas of the photoprinting material,and means for advancing the frame member pendently of the cut along itspath step by step to bring successive windows of the row to printingposition at the printing station.

2. Photoprinting apparatus for producing prints from photonegativessuccessively in row arrangement comprising a base member, a carriagemovable along the base member past a printing station, a supportingframe for photoprinting sheet material on said carriage, a cover membercarried by said frame having a seriesof windows for exposing areas ofthe photoprinting material, and means for advancing the carriage step bystep along the base member to bring the windows of the supporting framecover successively to printing position at the printing station.

3. Photoprinting apparatus for prints from photonegatives successivelyin row arrangement comprising a base member, a supporting frame memberfor photoprinting sheet material mounted for movement both lengthwiseand transversely of the base member, means for advancing the framemember step by step lengthwise in one direction on the base member andfor thereafter returning the frame member in the opposite direction tostarting position, and means for advancing the frame member step by steptransversely of the base member rendered operative to advance the framemember one step transversely in response to the return movement of theframe member lengthwise of the base member. I

4. Photoprinting apparatus for producing prints from photonegativessuccessively in row arrangement comprising a base member, anundercarriage movable transversely of the base member, an upper carriagesupporting a photoprint sheet material frame supported on theundercarriage for movement lengthwise of the base member, means foradvancing the upper carriage on the lower carriage step by steplengthwise of the base member, means for advancing the undercarriage,and with it the upper carriage, step by step transversely of the basemember, selectively operative control means for timing the step by stepadvances of one of the carriages relative to the base member, means forresetting said one carriage to starting position, and control meansresponsive to the resetting of said one carriage to starting positionfor effecting the advance one step at a time of the other of thecarriages relative to the base member.

5. Photoprinting apparatus for producing a series of separate printsfrom photonegatives successively in a plurality of parallel rows on asingle sheet of photosensitive material comprising a printing framemember for housing the photoprinting sheet material mounted for movementrelative to a printing station, a cover member carried by the framemember having a. plurality of windows for exposing printing areas of thephotoprinting material, and means for advancing the frame member step bystep to bring each window thereof successively to printing position atthe printing station.

6. Photoprinting apparatus for producing prints from photonegativessuccessively in a plurality of parallel rows comprising a printing framemember for housing photoprinting sheet material mounted for movementrelative to a producing frame member having a plurality of parallel rowsof windows for exposing printing areas of the photoprinting material,power operated means for advancing the frame member row-wise to bringsuccessive windows of a row to printing position at the printingstation, and power operated means for shifting the frame membertransversely of the window rows to bring successive rows of windows intorow-wise alignment with the printing station.

'7. Photoprinting apparatus according to claim 6 including stop meansfor stopping the frame member with each window at the printing stationand manually operated key control means for operating the stop means.

'8. Photoprinting apparatus according to claim 6, including a series ofstops for stopping the frame member with each window at the printingstation, and individual control means for actuating each of thestops.

9. Photoprinting apparatus according to claim 6, including means forresetting the frame rowwise to starting position, and control means forthe means for shifting the frame member transversely responsive tooperation of said resetting means.

10. Photoprinting apparatus for producing prints from photonegativessuccessively in row arrangement comprising a carriage member forsupporting photoprinting sheet material movable in a path past aprinting station, a base member carrying said carriage member, meanscarried by the base member for advancing the carriage member along itspath in one direction intermittently step by step to bring successiveareas of the carriage member to the printing station for a printingoperation, and means independent of the base member carried by thecarriage member for returning the latter in the opposite direction toits initial settling in an uninterrupted movement.

11. Photoprinting apparatus for producing prints from photonegativessuccessively in row arrangement comprising a carriage member forsupporting photoprinting sheet material movable in a path past aprinting station, a base member carrying said carriage member, means forbiasing the carriage member for movement across the base member,retractable spaced stops carried by one of said members engageable withthe other of said members to prevent biased movement of the carriagemember, and selectively operative control means for retracting saidstops to permit stepwise movement of the carriage member.

12. Photoprinting apparatus for producing prints from photonegativessuccessively a plurality of parallel rows comprising a printing framemember for supporting photoprinting sheet material mounted for bothlengthwise and transverse movement relative to a printing station,biasing means urging the frame member to move lengthwise in onedirection and to move transversely in one direction past the printingstation, and control means limiting movement of the frame member by thebiasing means to a step by step advance both lengthwise and transverselyso as to bring successive areas of the photoprinting sheet material intoprinting position at the printing station.

WILLIAM F. DREHS.

